Aortic Valve Surgery with the INSPIRIS RESILIA Aortic Valve

Aortic Valve Surgery with the

INSPIRIS RESILIA

Aortic Valve

What You and Your Loved Ones Should Know

Introduction

This guide is for patients who have

aortic heart valve disease and

whose doctors have proposed

surgery to replace the valve. It will

help you and your loved ones

learn more about your heart and

how it works. You will also learn

about valve disease and surgery

options.

Be sure to ask your doctor to

explain the treatment choices and

the heart valves used for surgery.

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Table of Contents

How does your heart work?............................................................................................................ 3

What is aortic valve disease?.......................................................................................................... 4

How is aortic valve disease treated?............................................................................................ 4

What are your treatment options? .............................................................................................. 5

What are your surgical aortic valve options?............................................................................ 6

Why might the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve be an option for you?................................. 9

Who will be on your medical team?..........................................................................................11

What happens before, during, and after standard open-heart valve surgery?............11

Clinical studies...................................................................................................................................12

Valve replacement risk information...........................................................................................12

Implant patient registry .................................................................................................................13

Frequently asked questions...........................................................................................................14

Contact information........................................................................................................................15

This booklet does not include

everything you need to know

about heart valves, heart valve

replacement surgery, or about

related medical care. Regular

check-ups by your heart doctor

are important.

Call or see your doctor whenever

you have questions or concerns

about your health, especially if you

have any unusual symptoms or

changes in your overall health.

How does your heart work?

Your heart is a strong muscle that sits in

your chest between your lungs. It works

to keep blood moving through your

body. The right side of the heart pumps

blood through the lungs, where the

blood picks up oxygen. The blood with

oxygen goes to the left side of the heart,

and the left side of the heart pumps the

blood to the rest of your body.

There are four valves that control the

flow of blood through your heart. The

valves open to allow blood to move

forward, but close to prevent blood from

moving backward in the wrong

direction. One of the valves is the aortic

valve.

The aortic valve serves as the ¡°door¡±

between your heart and the rest of your

body. It has three leaflets (or flaps) to

make sure blood moves correctly from

the lower left chamber of the heart to

the aorta. The aorta is a large blood

vessel that carries the blood to the rest

of the body.

Left

atrium

Right

atrium

Mitral valve

Aortic

valve

Pulmonary

valve

Tricuspid

valve

Right

ventricle

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Left

ventricle

What is aortic valve disease?

Healthy Aortic Valve

There are two types of problems that can occur with aortic valves:

? Aortic stenosis: the valve is narrowed and does not completely open, blocking

the normal flow of blood

? Aortic regurgitation: the valve does not fully close and blood leaks backward

(in the wrong direction) in the heart

These problems can be caused by a build-up of calcium (mineral deposits) on the

leaflets due to aging, birth defect, illness, or certain therapies. The build-up of

calcium on the valve¡¯s leaflets over time hardens and thickens the valve. As a

result, the valve does not open all the way, and blood flow is slowed. This forces

the heart to work harder and can cause chest pain, difficulty exercising, shortness

of breath, and fainting spells. Over time, your heart gets weaker. This raises your

risk of heart failure (when your heart cannot pump enough blood for what your

body needs).

Closed

Open

Diseased Aortic Valve

Some people are born with two leaflets, instead of three. This is called a bicuspid

valve. When this happens, it increases the risk for calcium build-up on the valve.

Closed

How is aortic valve disease treated?

Treatment for valve disease depends on how much disease is in the valve.

Medicine can relieve symptoms in many cases, but it will not fix the failing

valve. As aortic valve disease worsens, your doctor may suggest replacing your

valve. There are different ways to replace a valve. Your doctor will carefully

assess your case and advise you of the best option for you

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Open

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